Floribunda rose plant named ‘GRAtusc’

ABSTRACT

‘GRAtusc’ is a new and distinct floribunda type Rosa hybrid cultivar which is characterized by the combination of an upright to semi-weeping, bushy growth habit, nearly continuous flowering, with flowers that exhibit a distinct pink blended yellow color becoming terracotta with summer heat and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation. The new cultivar is generally suited to landscape applications.

Latin name of genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and speciesof the novel variety disclosed herein is Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Rosa hybrid disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘GRAtusc’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘GRAtusc’ is a seedling selection which resulted from thecontrolled cross-pollination of an unnamed Rosa hybrid female breedingline (not patented) and an unnamed Rosa hybrid male breeding line (notpatented). Both parents, developed by the same inventor and nevercommercially released, exhibited traits deemed commercially significantand desirable.

After many years of trialing, the female parent was confirmed to possessa combination of desirable traits such as very strong fragrance andhaving flower color white, borne on a bushy plant growing to 1.2 m talland wide. The male parent was selected for use in breeding aftertrialing confirmed the presence of a modern flower color. During thespring of 2013, the female parent was emasculated and was manuallypollinated with pollen from the male parent. In autumn of 2014, seed wascollected from hips produced by the female parent and a number ofseedlings were grown to a mature size, including the claimed plant.These progeny were further evaluated for desirable traits such as blackspot disease resistance and original flower color, and in January of2015 the claimed plant was first observed. In January of 2017, afterfurther evaluation for desirable traits, the claimed plant was deemed tobe garden-worthy and suited to widespread cultivation. It was given thedenomination ‘GRAtusc’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual propagation of ‘GRAtusc’, by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings, was first performed in September of 2015 at theinventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. Through more than twelvesubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed andrepresent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Rosa cultivar‘GRAtusc’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘GRAtusc’ as a newand distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAtusc’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping        growth habit; and    -   2. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAtusc’ flowers exhibit pink blended yellow        flowers becoming terracotta color with summer heat; and    -   3. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAtusc’ exhibits nearly continuous flowering;        and    -   4. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAtusc’ exhibits a double flower type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 6 month old‘GRAtusc’ plant grown outdoors at the inventor's commercial nursery inHighfields, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of‘GRAtusc’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements, made in January of 2018,describe averages of two own-root specimens of one year old ‘GRAtusc’plants. The plants were grown outdoors in a garden bed of a redkrasnozem soil in full sunlight, at the inventor's nursery inHighfields, Australia. No shade or supplemental light was provided.Temperatures ranged from approximately 17 to 35 degrees Celsius duringthe day and 7 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. Standard practices forirrigation, fertilizer and pest control were applied at appropriatetimes during the growing season. The plants were pruned three timesduring the growing season using accepted techniques for rose pruning.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘GRAtusc’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2007 Fifth Edition except where commonterms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘GRAtusc’ and comparisons with the parentsand the most similar commercial cultivar of Rosa hybrid are providedbelow.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-weeping.        -   Growth rate.—Approximately 8 months to reach 40 cm.        -   Dimensions.—80 cm tall and 60 cm wide.        -   Environmental tolerance.—Very good heat tolerance; cold            hardiness is unknown.        -   Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to powdery mildew            (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and excellent resistance blackspot            (Diplocarpon rosae).        -   Propagation.—Technique — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to            initiate roots — About 13 days at approximately 21 degrees            Celsius at root zone and 18 degrees Celsius ambient            temperature. Time to produce a rooted cutting — About 25            days at approximately 21 degrees Celsius at root zone and 18            degrees Celsius ambient temperature.-   Root system: White fibrous roots with many root hairs extending from    lesser roots in a featherlike arrangement.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Irregular branching from mature branches,            breaking first from the uppermost buds near the apex of each            shoot.        -   Quantity.—Numerous.        -   General dimensions.—Approximately 60 cm long; 1.0 cm in            diameter near the base and tapering to 0.4 cm.        -   Immature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.5 cm. Texture            and pubescence — Smooth with prickles; glabrous. Color —            Near RHS 142C with no anthocyanin present. Prickles —            Density — Sparse to moderate. Color — Near RHS 149C. Shape —            Convex. Texture — Smooth.        -   Mature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.8 cm, after one            year. Texture and pubescence — Smooth with prickles;            glabrous. Color — Near RHS 149B. Prickles — Density — Sparse            to moderate. Color — Near RHS 176A. Shape — Convex. Texture            — Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate imparipinnate compound leaves.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 10 per mature branch.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf internode length.—2.0 cm.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 10 cm long and 6 cm wide.        -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 2 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 144D and margined RHS 143A. Texture and pubescence            — Smooth and pubescent.        -   Prickles.—Present.        -   Stipitate glands.—Not present.        -   Stipule.—Dimensions — 1.5 cm long and 0.4 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 141B. Texture and pubescence — Pubescent. Margins —            Ciliate. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Winged.        -   Prickles.—Not present.        -   Stipitate glands.—Not present.        -   Rachis.—Dimensions — 1.6 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 143A. Prickles — present. Stipitate glands — Not            present.        -   Leaflets.—Quantity — Seven leaflets on axillary leaves.            Dimensions — Average size of the terminal leaflet is 3.7 cm            long and 2.5 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Apex — Acuminate. Base            — Ovate. Margins — Serrated. Texture, pubescence and luster,            adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Texture,            pubescence and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous,            and matte. Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface — Near            RHS 143AB, with no anthocyanin intonations. Juvenile foliage            color, abaxial surface — Near RHS 143C, with no anthocyanin            intonations. Mature foliage color, adaxial surface — Near            RHS N134A. Mature foliage color, abaxial surface — Near RHS            137C. Venation — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface —            Near RHS 137, with midrib RHS 136C. Venation color, abaxial            surface — Near RHS 138A, with midrib RHS 138C.        -   Petiolule.—Dimensions — 0.2 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 144A with no anthocyanin intonations present.            Prickles — Not present. Texture — Smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are clustered.        -   Blooming habit.—Almost continuous from October through June            in the southern hemisphere.        -   Time to flower.—6 to 8 weeks for a new stem to mature and            flowering begins to occur once a stem matures.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 22 cm long and 14 cm in diameter.            Color — Near RHS 145B with no anthocyanin present. Strength            — Rigid. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous.            Prickles — Not present.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Size.—2.0 cm long and 1.0 cm in diameter.        -   Color.—Near RHS 141D with no anthocyanin present.-   Flower:    -   -   Calyx.—General — Comprised of five polysepalous sepals.            Diameter of calyx — 0.5 cm. Sepals — Color, interior surface            — RHS 145C. Color, exterior surface — RHS 145A with no            anthocyanin. Dimensions — 2.0 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. Apex            — Apiculate. Base — Flat at union with receptacle. Quantity            — Five. Pubescence — Densely puberulent. Margins — Entire.            Stipitate glands — Not present.        -   Corolla.—General shape of corolla — Cupped and            irregularly-rounded with a tight outer whorl. Rate of            opening — 6 days from bud to anthesis. Dimensions —            Approximately 7 cm in diameter and 4 cm deep. Fragrance —            Mild sweet scent. Lastingness — On the plant for 5 days            after anthesis. Persistence — Self-cleaning. Petals — Petal            count — Exhibits semi double flowers with approximately 25            petals under normal conditions. Petal arrangement —            Irregularly rounded whorl at anthesis and aging to a loose            whorl. Dimensions — 3 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Petal shape —            Obovate. Apex — Rounded. Base — Flattened, then obtuse.            Petal reflex — Slightly reflexed at apex. Petal margin —            Entire; slightly undulating. Texture — Soft. Aspect —            Formal. Petal color, upon opening — Upper surface — Near RHS            37B with base near RHS 9C. Lower surface — Near RHS 11B.            Petal color, at anthesis — Upper surface — Near RHS 43D with            base 6C. Lower surface — Near RHS 6D. Fading — Near RHS 2D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Anthers — Shape —            Narrow ovate. Length — 0.1 cm. Color — Near RHS 5A. Pollen —            Many. Pollen Color — Near RHS 3A. Filaments — Color — Near            RHS 7A. Length — Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Pistils.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Length — Approximately            1.0 cm. Stigma — Shape — Ovate. Color — Near RHS 11B. Style            — Length — Approximately 0.8 cm long. Color — Near RHS 18C.        -   Ovary.—Dimensions — 0.5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 3D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape — Pitcher-shaped. Dimensions — 0.5 cm high            and 0.5 cm wide. Color — Near RHS 142D.-   Hip and seed:    -   -   Hip.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.5 cm            wide. Texture — Smooth. Color — Near RHS 146C.        -   Seed.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm            wide. Color — Near RHS 144D.-   Comparisons with the parents: The new rose plant ‘GRAtusc’ may be    distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed breeding line (not    patented), by the following combination of characteristics: 1. The    flowers of ‘GRAtusc’ exhibit a distinct pink blended yellow color    becoming terracotta with summer heat. 2. ‘GRAtusc’ exhibits a lower    petal count. 3. ‘GRAtusc’ has mild sweet perfume whereas the seed    parent has strong perfume with notes of citrus. The new rose plant    ‘GRAtusc’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed    breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics: 1.    The flowers of ‘GRAtusc’ exhibit a distinct pink blended yellow    color becoming terracotta with summer heat. 2. ‘GRAtusc’ has flowers    that are not striped.-   Comparisons with the most similar variety of common knowledge:    Plants of the new cultivar ‘GRAtusc’ may be distinguished from the    commercial variety Rosa hybrid ‘RADrazz’ (U.S. Pat. No. 11,836) by    the following combination of characteristics: 1. The flowers of    ‘GRAtusc’ exhibit a distinct pink blended yellow color becoming    terracotta with summer heat whereas the flowers of ‘RADrazz’ are    uniform dark pink to cerise. 2. Growth of ‘GRAtusc’ is upright to    semi-weeping with bushy growth whereas ‘RADrazz’ growth is upright.

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rosa hybridplant named ‘GRAtusc’, as described and illustrated herein.